US singles chart adds YouTube viewing stats to data collection

The Billboard Hot 100 now takes into consideration music videos viewed on the streaming site

The US singles chart has added YouTube viewing statistics to the way it works out the placements of the Billboard Hot 100.

Billboard and Nielsen have updated their chart methodology to include music video views on the US version of the video streaming site as well as digital download track sales, physical singles sales, radio airplay, audio streaming and online radio streaming.

The chart also takes into account user-generated clips that use authorised audio, helping ‘Harlem Shake’ by Baauer – pictured above – to go in at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has had 103 million views on YouTube and a host of fans have made their own videos for the song.

Of the changes to the charts, Bill Werde – Billboard’s editorial director – said: “The very definition of what it means to have a hit is ever-changing these days. The Billboard charts are the ultimate measure of success in music, and they constantly evolve to reflect these new music experiences.”

He added: “When the charts launched over 70 years ago, a hit was defined as selling copies of a single or generating airplay. While those avenues are still viable, one needn’t look any further than CeeLo, Gotye, Psy or now Baauer to know that a song can be a massive hit on YouTube alone.”

YouTube data will also be used in Billboard’s new Streaming Songs chart, which puts stats from all of the online streaming sites into one chart.